Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma softball heads south for top-15 matchup with future SEC foe

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Jayda Coleman (24) celebrates after hitting a triple in the sixth inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Northwestern Wildcats at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 17, 2023. Oklahoma won 2-1.Ou Softball Vs Northwestern
Oklahoma's Jayda Coleman (24) celebrates after hitting a triple in the sixth inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Northwestern Wildcats at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 17, 2023. Oklahoma won 2-1.Ou Softball Vs Northwestern /
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No. 1 Oklahoma softball heads to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a midweek battle on Tuesday with a future SEC foe.

The Sooners will take on 11th-ranked LSU at Tiger Park, where OU has won just once in four previous visits. This is Oklahoma’s first game against LSU since 2016 in the Women’s College World Series and the first trip to LSU since the 2015 season.

Despite OU’s struggles playing at LSU, the Sooners are 10-8 all-time against the Lady Tigers. The top-ranked Sooners are coming off a third-straight Big 12 series sweep to go 9-0 in the Big 12 and extend consecutive win streak in Big 12 softball series to 51. OU has won 28 consecutive games since a 4-3 loss to Baylor on Feb. 19 as part of the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas.

This is a nonconference game and will not count in the conference standings, but it is every bit as big a game given LSU’s top-25 status. Tuesday’s contest will be Oklahoma’s 14th game this season against a ranked opponent. The Sooners are a perfect 13-0 in games against ranked teams in 2023.

LSU comes into the game with a 33-7 overall record and having won two of three against Missouri over the weekend. The Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games. LSU is 20-5 at home this season.

The Sooners lead the nation in multiple statistical categories, including team batting average (.384), scoring (8.66 runs per game), on-base percentage (.471), slugging percentage (.696), ERA (.97) and fielding percentage (.988 with just 10 errors in 37 games). Individually, OU has three players who rank in the top-15 nationally in hitting, led by junior Jayda Coleman who ranks 10th with a .464 batting average and 11 home runs.

Oklahoma has been dominant all over the diamond this season, but nowhere more so than in the circle. The Sooners have not allowed a run in 24 consecutive innings and boast a nation-best 20 shutouts. All four of OU’s starting pitchers have ERA’s less than 1.50, and Nicole May and Alex Storako rank second and fifth nationally with ERA’s of 0.43 and 0.74, respectively.

LSU’s best hitter is Danieca Coffey, who is hitting .442, 19th best in Division I softball, with an on-base percentage of 1.106. Taylor Pleasants leads the team in home runs (8) and runs batted in with 41.

It is uncertain who will be in the circle for LSU on Tuesday, but the Tigers’ two best pitchers are freshman Sydney Berzon, who owns an 11-2 record, a 1.71 ERA in 86.0 innings pitched and 82 strikeouts. Ali Kilponen is 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 92.0 innings and has thrown three shutouts.

The game will be available for television viewing to a nationwide audience on ESPN2 beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Beth Mowins and Michele Smith will be on the call.

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